BEFORE IT’S TOO Later, APPLY THE BRAKES.
Following the tragic accident in Tampines last month that left two people dead, road safety was a topic of discussion in parliament on Tuesday ( May 7 ). In its responses, the government claimed to have taken a number of steps to improve health, including using rate cameras, ad-hoc enforcement, and road improvements.
Although it was a worthwhile discussion, I’m concerned that not much will change if it continues in the pattern that occurs after every major injury.
There will always be individuals acting aggressively or making the wrong-headed decisions, but the drama that makes headlines is not the problem. Sadly, they are usually few and far between.
The bigger problem is the normal crimes committed by drivers that encourage them to disregard the laws and other consumers.  ,
Do enough persons, including the government, care about these deeds to do something about it?
Do those who tolerate such behavior worry about their cars?
Here’s why it matters: When little breaches are overlooked, they lead to bigger and more significant people. When changing lanes, overtaking, speeding up and beating customers signals, no signaling to convert leads to doing so.
The more people see their cars doing it because it appears to be the standard, and the harder it is to solve the issue.
Because they are being told that no one cares, vehicles become more resolute.
The government must communicate to the public that the rules must be followed and that failing to do so costs money.
More careful enforcement, higher penalties for offenders, using technology such as the reddish- gentle speed cameras, more successful training of learner drivers, and more precise public messaging- any combination of these should help.
The new procedures ‘ specifics are not as critical as educating the driving public that breaking the law will not be tolerated and that the consequences will be minimal.
The brake should be applied before it is too late.
Han Fook Kwang, a former newspaper editor, is a top fellow at Nanyang Technological University’s S Rajaratnam School of International Studies.  ,  ,